Thimble.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THIMBLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed February 25, 1905. Serial No. 247,336.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER HINSDALE HUNTINGTON, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Kerrville, in the county of Kerr and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thimbles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates generally to an improvement in thimbles; and it consists, essentially, in combining with the ordinary thimble certain useful and necessary attachments conveniently arranged for use without interfering with the ordinary service of the thimble proper.

The main object of the invention is to provide the ordinary thimble with a needlethreader and a thread-cutter conveniently arranged for use without removing the thimble from the finger, each of these attachments being constructed wholly from the material ordinarily included in the thimble proper.

The invention will be described in detail in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved thimble in place on the finger of an operator, illustrating particularly the use of' the needle-threader. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the thimble, showing the needle-threader. Fig. 3' is a similar view showing the thread-cutter. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4 f Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents my improved thimble, which aside from the combined attachments may be of the usual type, having an open bottom and closed top.

The needle-threader is preferably positioned adjacent the lower edge 2 of the thimble and comprises, in effect, two cones 3 and 4, arranged at right angles to each other, the former being the threading-cone and the latter the needle cone or guide. The threadingcone 3 projects laterally beyond the surface of the thimble and is constructed by cutting two adjacent wedge-shaped pieces 5 from the body of the thimble, these pieces or strips extending lengthwise the thimble and being severed only on three sides, the contiguous sides of the strips being left integral with the thimble. The strips are turned upward from the thimble and toward each other until their adjacent free edges are separated only by a narrow space or slot 6. This construction provides a threading-cone extending lengthwise the thimble with its mouth or largest diameter next to the lower edge of the thimble, which cone is formed entirely from the material of the thimble and has a slot extending lengthwise its upper surface.

Adjacent the small end of the threadingcone I arrange the needle-cone 4, which comprises simply a cone shaped depression 7, formed in the wall of the thimble. This needle cone or depression extends at a right angle to the length of the threading-cone and is in direct alin ementwith the axis of the threading-cone, being of such a depth as to position the eye of a standard needle directly in the line with the apex-opening of the threadingcone when the head of the needle is resting on the bottom of the depression. The wall of the thimble is formed with a groove 8 extending on each side of the depression 7 and in a direction at right angles to the length of the threading-cone for a purpose hereinafter described.

In using the needle-threader the operator, without removing the thimble from the finger, will insert a needle into the depression 7, so that its head will rest against the bottom of said depression, when the eye of the needle will be in direct alinement with the apex-opening of the threading-cone. The operator now inserts the end of the thread into the large end of the threading-cone and through said cone and the adjacent needle-eye, after which the needle may be withdrawn, the thread leaving the threading-cone through slot 6 in an obvious manner. As the thimble is worn on .the second finger, the thumb and forefinger of the same hand are free to manipulate the thread, which is conveniently done, owing to the position of the threading-cone extending lengthwise the thimble with its mouth toward the operator. In the event the needle desired to be threaded is not of standard make or in the case of a sewing-machine needle the needle is placed transverse the thimble, resting in the groove 8, with its eye directly above or practically within the depression 7, when the thread will readily pass from the threadingcone through the eye.

The thread-cutter 9 is arranged on the surface of the thimble, preferably diametrically opposite the threader, but at the top or closed end of the thimble. The thread-cutter is also formed wholly from the material of the thimble, comprising a triangular strip 10 cut from the thimble-wall on all sides except the baseline and bent slightly outward as a whole adjacent said base-line to project the body of the cutter parallel with but spaced from the thimble-wall, as shown in Fig. 4. The edges of the strip 10 adjacent their connection with the thimble-wall are sharpened, as at 11, to provide a cutting edge for the thread inserted between the strip 10 and the thimble-wall.

The use of the thread-cutter is obvious, it being understood that from its position over the top of the thimble the apex of the strip is convenient and serviceable for other purposes-such as a ripper, stitch-puller, drawnwork puller, marker, and the like.

It will be noted that both the needle-threader and thread-cutter are formed wholly from the material of the thimble-wall without any additional material, hence simplifying the structure, reducing the cost of the manufacture, and materially adding to the length of usefulness of the device by dispensing with joints or connections between different, parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1 1. A thimble and an integral needlethreader, said threader comprising a needlecone and a threading-cone, the latter comprising two strips integral with the thimble-wall, and bent into cone shape.

2. A needle-threader comprising a body portion, athreading-cone secured thereto, said body being formed with a needle depression adjacent the end of the threading-cone, said body being formed with a groove including the needle depression and extending transverse the length of the threading-cone.

3. A needle-threader comprising a body provided with a threading-cone and formed with a needle depression and with a needlereceiving groove adjacent said cone.

4. A thimble and an integral needlethreader, said threader comprising a threading-cone including two strips integral with the thimble and bent into cone shape, and a needle-cone formed in the material of the thimble-wall at right angles to the threadingcone.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SPENCER HINSDALE HUNTINGTON.

Witnesses:

JNo. H. WARD, T. THOMAS. 

